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The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that a small number of the U.S.'s top philanthropists recently met privately in New York to discuss charitable giving issues. The group included Bill Gates, david Rockefeller, Sr., Oprah Winfrey and Mayor Bloomberg. Here is an excerptt from the article:

While the meeting and its hush-hush nature has triggered intense speculation by the news media about what was discussed, Patricia Q. Stonesifer, former chief executive of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said it was simply a gathering of people who have a common passion for helping others.

“A group of philanthropists came together to discuss their giving,” said Ms. Stonesifer, who attended the meeting. “There’s really no secret about that. It was an informal get-together and a chance to exchange ideas about what motivates them and what they have learned so far.”

“There was an enormous amount of enthusiasm and excitement around their giving and that was a very big part of what they were there for,” she added.